The Philosophy of Social Research (DBA900)

The course will cover the philosophical underpinnings of social research, setting the scene for your work as a doctoral student. It starts with an introduction to the purposes of universities and academic work. In order to help you structure your approach to your own research work we will spend most of our time on explaining what is meant by the following concepts: research problem, research questions, the researcher’s posture, research strategies, and research paradigm. This course covers also questions of theory development and hypothesis generation, advances in management theory, an introduction of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methodologies, and ethical issues in management research.

Credit Hours :
1

Qualitative Research Methods (DBA901)

The course will cover the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research, the various approaches and methodologies, as well as particular research methods. Although the course will place qualitative approaches and methods within the broader research design, mostly the course will give a practical experience to participants to help guide their progress in the formulation of their problem statement, their research design, qualitative data collection, and analysis of qualitative data and writing up of the findings.

Credit Hours :
4

Prerequisites

Quantitative Research Methods (DBA902)

This course focuses on the use of statistics in business research. In addition to mastery of common statistical tools, it discusses the design and execution of typical business research projects using such methods as surveys, archival data, and direct observation. It covers some important modeling and analysis tools which include Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), multiple regression, logistic regression, forecasting, factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. Comprehensive statistical packages will be used to analyze the data, such as SPSS, and Minitab.

Credit Hours :
4

Prerequisites

Literature Review and Critique (DBA903)

This course will demonstrate the “search to insert” process and also details the purpose and process of reviewing and critiquing (summarising and synthesising) source materials. It will involve a number of applied elements so as to ensure all candidates are familiar with locating materials relevant to their area of research and how to catalogue and use reference data (EndNote bibliographic, "Cite While Your Write" software) and also, how to summarise and synthesise source materials.

Credit Hours :
1

Prerequisites

Research in Support Business Functions (DBA904)

This course illustrates and discusses research issues and research methods across the functional business areas of Human Resources Management, Accounting, Finance, Marketing Management, Supply Chain Management and Operations, Information Systems and Technology Management, Business Economics, and SME’s, Strategy. The aim is to help the course participants to develop a cross-functional perspective in business research.

Credit Hours :
7

Prerequisites

Introduction to Business Research (DBA905)

This course introduces the concept of business research and its usefulness for businesses to better understand products, processes, markets and competition. The course emphasizes how research outcomes assist in developing policies, strategies and tactics. The course also integrates complete research methodologies (both qualitative, quantitative and mixed research) at the doctoral level in example business researches that are related to improving business practice.

Credit Hours :
1

Prerequisites

Human Factors & Social Responsibility (DBA906)

"Based on different conceptions of the institutional role of corporations in society, the course offers students a range of perspectives including different theoretical frameworks to increase their awareness of growing stakeholder demands for financial, environmental and social performance. Students will be encouraged to think about how to create sustainable business value, incorporating concepts such as externalities, accountability and transparency. A key concern of the course is to think critically about what responsible management means for modern organizations.
Students will be introduced to the historical background and the contested terrain of business ethics and the emergence of CSR and sustainability debates. Students will be engaged to discuss the macro-level challenges for governments and businesses today and the resulting pressure waves. For instance, students will be asked to think about the ecological crisis and the emergence of sustainable development as a public policy and business goal. The shift of CSR and sustainability from the margins to the core of business strategy and the passage from public relations' CSR initiatives to sustainability strategies are discussed. Also, the link between workers’ rights, employment legislation, and CSR will be discussed (First and second sessions). The course will demand students to think critically about their organizations within the context of sustainable development. For that purpose, students are required to describe their organization’ current CSR and sustainability initiatives. Later, they will be required to write a roadmap on how to build a sustainability strategy for their (third session). Finally, students will be engaged to think about how to bring organizations to account for their social and environmental impacts. For instance, students are called to think about the role of the corporation and to whom managers are accountable? The limits of reporting systems are discussed and solutions towards achieving a strong conservation of financial, environmental and human capitals are considered (Fourth session)."

Credit Hours :
1

Prerequisites

Research Elective (DBA907)

In depth research design,methodology, and research process discussion within a chosen area of specialization. The Research Elective course can also be a related graduate research course from an approved university discipline (external to FBE) .

Credit Hours :
1

Prerequisites

Dissertation-Research Proposal (DBA908)

The overall aim of this research course is to enable students to write a proposal, and defend it. Topics include planning, research and documentation, style and editing, document design, ethics, abstracts, and oral presentation of the proposal. Students will learn how to deal with basic research proposal components, such as literature review, research questions, aims and objectives, research paradigms and methodologies, the significance and feasibility of their study, as well as other relevant factors for their particular research projects.

Credit Hours :
6

Prerequisites

Dissertation Research Part 1 (DBA909)

The course goal is to help students apply their cumulative understanding and skills to their own research questions. This course does not aim to deliver to students additional substantive material or methodological teachings, as they have been delivered in the Course component of the program (DBA900 – DBA908A).

Credit Hours :
6

Prerequisites

Dissertation Research Part 2 (DBA910)

"The aim of this research course is to enable the students to finalize the writing up and defense of their dissertation, to proceed to graduation. This course deals with both the theoretical and practical aspects of writing a dissertation and successfully defending it in front of an examination panel. The purpose of the course is to assist the students through the writing up and following through from the previous research courses. In this course participants are expected to apply the state of the art research methodologies that have been acquired in previous taught courses in the DBA as well as from their respective Advisors , to study some managerial and business issues pertaining to their organizations or the wider professional field in which they operate. The course requires that a dissertation is written by the end of it, which will make an important contribution and/or provide innovative insights to the practice of the participant’s profession. The course overall goal is to help students apply their cumulative understanding and skills to their own research questions. Upon completion of the course the students should be able to defend their dissertation successfully."

Credit Hours :
12

Prerequisites

Internship (GBUS460)

The course aims to bring together theory and practice to students through their participation in practical training. The objectives of such practical training are to better understand work environments, gain on-job practical training and enhance students’ work ethics and communication skills. The student will be given the opportunity to perform real work and actively participate in the operations of different business institutions during their actual working hours. Written reports and oral presentation are required from the students at the end (and during) the term training program.

Credit Hours :
12

Field Project I (GBUS610)

This course is the first in a series of four courses in which students will be removed from a structured learning environment in a classroom setting and will be challenged to deal with unstructured practical and industry-based problems. Students will be provided with the opportunity to work with the management of a client organization from the community. In groups and under the supervision of a faculty member, students will be required to utilize their skills to complete the first stage of analyzing a business problem or opportunity. At the end of this course, students are expected to demonstrate their understanding of the business problem and present their findings with the analysis framework.

Credit Hours :
3

Field Project II (GBUS620)

At this second stage of the field project, students are expected to use the knowledge gained and tools learned from the courses in the first semester of the MBA program to develop and defend action plans within the framework developed in Field Project I. Students will collect data, conduct interviews with subject matter experts, and top executives in order to enhance and finalize their action plans. Findings are presented and submitted in a report at the end of this course.

Credit Hours :
3

Field Project III (GBUS630)

In this course, students will learn skills and tools to implement the action plans developed in Field Project II. Some tools and techniques will require subject matter experts, field professionals, and/or faculty members from the client organization or other institutions to explanation and facilitation. Students will implement the skills and use the tools in enhancing the action plans. At the end of this course, students are expected to present their proposed solution and/or recommendations in both oral and written formats.

Credit Hours :
3

Field Project IV (GBUS640)

This is the final course in the four-course field project series. In this course, under the supervision of a faculty member (project consultant) and executives from the associated client organization, students will implement, and receive feedback on, the action plans developed in Field Project III. If the project addresses a business issue that has been resolved by the organization under consideration then a congruency analysis between the two approaches will be developed. Otherwise, the proposed implementation or solution will be discussed with the stakeholders. At the end of this course, students are expected to submit a report documenting the findings of their field project.

Credit Hours :
3

Business Research (GBUS680)

This course is designed to provide the MBA student with the required skills to develop and demonstrate competency in business research methodology and techniques. It includes the development of a clear and well structured research proposal. Topics covered include, but not limited to, the stages of research processes, primary data collection methods, data coding, and survey analysis and critique. At the end of this course, MBA students will be able to develop a research plan and conduct basic business research. They will understand and be able to apply both qualitative and quantitative research methods to a UAE-related business problem

Credit Hours :
3

Field Research Project (GBUS690)

The Field Application Project is the culmination of the UAEU MBA experience. In consultation with their employers, MBA students identify a significant business challenge or opportunity to which to apply their skill in Action Research toward actual problem solution or goal achievement. MBA students will be guided to frame unstructured business problems or goals, to identity the central issues, and to develop an effective investigative strategy, drawing on the tools and concepts developed during study for the UAEU MBA. Under UAEU MBA faculty supervision, MBA students will conduct the study and present their findings in a live defense with the objective of achieving approval from their employers for workplace implementation. Students will produce their Field Application Project in the form of a bound volume as a condition for graduation.